Hi Wood Gassers,
Me being me, I couldn’t just build a pile of 6" cyclones. Instead I outfitted them with 400cfm 12V cooling jackets. I was looking at the jacket and blowers this morning thinking, “This isn’t going to cool gas, this is going to cool global warming!”
The cyclones should be back from the welder tomorrow. I can’t wait to start getting data from mine.
Get ready Bill! You will be up soon!
Stephen
Bill are you going to go with a cyclone instead of a media type filter or both?
Hi Wood Gassers,
I just finished Bill’s cyclone. It suffered a little “feature creep” as we call it my world. I was planning to ship just an off the shelf unit like this:
Instead I am shipping this:
I added a spin on ash bin and 248cfm cooling jacket. Obviously it’s not a $250 cyclone anymore but with risk comes reward. The 400cfm jackets will be standard but the fans are taking a while to get here and I want to be sure Bill has this in hand in time for Argos.
Some people have expressed a little worry that this is not big enough for vehicle use. Other than a bunch of numbers, I would remind everyone that my wife’s Suburban has 2.25" exhaust pipe and this has 2" piping for just the fuel flow. It’s all good to me.
This will get packed up this afternoon. Bill!! You are up! Try to hurt it!
Stephen
Hi Stephen,
Are the fans arranged one blowing in one out or both in and the air bleeds out?
David
Hi David,
Both fans suck in cold air so the fan motors stay cool. The air exits the rear baffle at the top and bottom.
Stephen
Alright Stephen! What a way to put the drop box to a real test. I personally LOVE the cyclone for being efficient, compact and help with cooling. And yes, your “feature creep” is a little over the top, but why not? How can we advance if we don’t keep comming up with ideas we think are better and then testing them. I’ll have my 4" cyclone at Argos and will be anxious to compare the two designs.
Thanks for stirring the pot and being willing to make the offer you did.
Gary in PA
Hi Gary,
Thanks. The gas cooling numbers are impressive when you air cool the cyclone. I have seen over a 400F reduction in gas temperature:
But don’t give me too much credit. There is a certain self serving marketing aspect to this.
Stephen
Hi stephen.
The BTU evacuated by the fans they would not inject into the gasifier?
Perhaps too complicated to build and little energy saving?
Thierry
Hi Thierry,
Absolutely the heat should be put back into the gasifier. On the Victorias I use the ash bin walls as a heat exchanger surface. Unfortunately, being a small simple machine there isn’t a lot of space to mount heat recovery equipment.
On the big Elizabeth machine I am recovering the heat and trying to limit the gas exit temperature to about 150C. I want it to be just hot enough to keep the cyclone dry and the powder flowing. That machine will not have a cooled cyclone. That is why I designed the air coolers as strap on accessories.
Stephen
Stephen, What are you asking for your largest cyclone ? (straight cyclone no fans) Does it have a cone set inside of it ??? Thanks, Mike LaRosa
Hi Mike,
Plain Jane 6"ers are $250 with just a capped 2" nipple on the bottom. I have three available if you want one.
Stephen
Stephen, I will call you on the twisted pair next week when I get a break … I have a busy weekend … The cone in the bottom allows the double vortex to form. this throws the fines out better. Only problem is it doesn’t transfer as much heat. I generally run my cyclones as the first part of the system after the heat exchanger etc. etc. Also they stay hot enough to not get water in them … Although APL has something that appears similar, there is a stainless sheet metal cone insert in them … I build from junk so is hard to do but you have nice flanges I wish my pictures were still on the web or I’d send a couple of links … Regards, Mike
Looks really good Stephen… Can’t wait to see how it works out for Bill.
Gasifier stuff in the kitchen! Either you’re a bachelor or you have a very tolerant wife! lol
She works at the local hospital and I do engineering consulting and metal fabrication from the barn. Rest assured it is ALL cleaned up before she gets home.
Ah yes, hide the evidence. I like the way you think : )
Stephen,
I’ve been looking at your cyclone build and wondering if it would work for me?I am building a smaller wood char unit 30 gal.propane tank with a 4"stack 3’ to 4’ tall with a 2" fire tube I’ve built two 100 pound units and they work find I would like to get the size down I use a cyclone and cooler that I bought from Vulcan Gas.I have a 5 and 9 hp generator do you think your cyclone will work for my need ? I want to take it to Argos.Let me know what you think and give me a price.
Thanks. Dan Moore
Hi Dan,
I am still a little sketchy on what you are looking for. Obviously the cyclone size depends on the engine size and load, not the gasifier. My 1" inlet/outlets like this:
but with professional welding, not my hack job are $200. If you would like the cooling jacket the total is $350. I have four units on the shelf. The fans can be either 115VAC or 12VDC. I have those in stock as well. Did I answer your question?
Stephen
Steven,
I am wanting to try your cyclone on my charcoal gassifier will I have a problem with filter ? I want to use a solar panel or a batteryI may need a container for clean out will I be able to get before Argos? Let me know when and how to order.
thanks Dan
Hi Dan,
Will you have a problem with filter?..I do not understand the question.
The 2" nipple on the bottom is a clean out reservoir. You can add a 2"X3/4" pipe coupling and add a quart Mason jar at your own risk. They work great most of the time but I have had them shatter in very hard sneezes,
I have all these items on the shelf ready go if you want them.
Please call me at 1 (207) 584-3380 so I can be sure I am sending you the correct size.
Stephen
